Aug 2, 2023 - 3-5 minutes
Get in the Know on PET Plastic Recycling Myths
Learn about the misconceptions surrounding plastic packaging and recycling and how they affect the recycling stream. Find out how brand owners can educate end users to increase recycling efforts and reduce environmental impact.
As a converter, you understand that all plastic packaging aspects can impact the recycling stream. If the proper materials are chosen and the package is correctly disposed, then plastic packaging can be an effective format for reducing environmental impact.
However, according to the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), not everyone in the public understands plastic packaging’s value, and several key misconceptions exist.
Find out specifically what the public’s misconceptions may be and how you can help brand owners educate end users to better understand and increase recycling.
However, according to the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), not everyone in the public understands plastic packaging’s value, and several key misconceptions exist.
Find out specifically what the public’s misconceptions may be and how you can help brand owners educate end users to better understand and increase recycling.
Myth #1: Recycling plastics doesn’t work and will never work.
Many end-users are not aware of how to recycle plastic nor realize that the packaging comes from previously-recycled packaging. Therefore, they may not believe their involvement in recycling plastic can be significant in circular recycling overall.
Truth:
Recycling plastic works! For example, the APR cites in 2021 that the United States recovered 5.1 billion pounds of post-consumer material for recycling. It resulted in 4.7 billion pounds of processed, post-consumer plastic material across North America; 20% of this material included rigid packaging from mainly HDPE, PP and PET. By providing these types of examples to the public, you will enable brand owners to help end-users see how their efforts can contribute to a larger sum of recycling statistics and motivate more people to contribute.
Truth:
Recycling plastic works! For example, the APR cites in 2021 that the United States recovered 5.1 billion pounds of post-consumer material for recycling. It resulted in 4.7 billion pounds of processed, post-consumer plastic material across North America; 20% of this material included rigid packaging from mainly HDPE, PP and PET. By providing these types of examples to the public, you will enable brand owners to help end-users see how their efforts can contribute to a larger sum of recycling statistics and motivate more people to contribute.
Myth #2: Most of the plastics put in bins do not actually get recycled.
Not all end-users are clear on whether the items they know to be recyclable, such as glass, corrugate and plastic, are being moved through the right recycling streams once the items they’ve placed into a bin are collected by material recovery facilities (MRFs). This may cause them to lose interest in contributing to circular recycling.
Truth:
While recycling programs vary across the U.S., the vast majority of plastics collected for recycling do get recycled. It is important for brand owners’ packaging to communicate what end-users need to do with the packaging at the end of its life; for example, a brand owner should help an end-user know whether they can recycle package from home curbside of if they should take it to a store drop-off location.
Overall, it is key for end-users to understand that accepted recyclables do get recycled, whereas plastics that end up in trash will never enter the recycling stream for second or third generational use.
Truth:
While recycling programs vary across the U.S., the vast majority of plastics collected for recycling do get recycled. It is important for brand owners’ packaging to communicate what end-users need to do with the packaging at the end of its life; for example, a brand owner should help an end-user know whether they can recycle package from home curbside of if they should take it to a store drop-off location.
Overall, it is key for end-users to understand that accepted recyclables do get recycled, whereas plastics that end up in trash will never enter the recycling stream for second or third generational use.
Myth #3: Most plastics are exported for recycling.
End-users are not always aware of where MRFs are located in their region. This lack of information may cause them to think recycling is completed overseas due to costs or processing requirements.
Truth:
Recycling exports have decreased since 2012, with a notably deep decline in 2017. This is because domestic demand is strong enough to keep these plastics in the U.S. In particular, over 50% of PET bottle bales were exported in 2008 and 2009, whereas only 3.1% of PET was exported overseas in 2021. Label converters and brand owners can work together to provide more details on the exact locations of MRFs in the U.S. to help end-users realize that recycling efforts are happening close to them and not overseas.
Truth:
Recycling exports have decreased since 2012, with a notably deep decline in 2017. This is because domestic demand is strong enough to keep these plastics in the U.S. In particular, over 50% of PET bottle bales were exported in 2008 and 2009, whereas only 3.1% of PET was exported overseas in 2021. Label converters and brand owners can work together to provide more details on the exact locations of MRFs in the U.S. to help end-users realize that recycling efforts are happening close to them and not overseas.
Myth #4: It is not beneficial to the environment if plastics enter circular system.
With sustainability becoming a growing interest among end-users, it is easy to mistake terminology or not fully understand how recycling connects to the idea of a circular system. This confusion can cause end-users to think they are not really contributing to circular recycling by simply placing plastic packaging in a recycling bin.
Truth:
Entering PET packaging into the circular system is a form of recycling. Circular recycling enables a PET package to be broken down and reformed into new packaging, enabling numerous generational usage. Rather than creating new plastic material each time PET packaging is needed, forming recycled plastic into new materials reduces energy consumption to decrease carbon emissions, helping improve the environment. Both bottle and tray packaging containers are growing markets for recycled PET packaging, while durable goods markets also provide options to reuse PET materials in mixed colors. While end-users may be aware of “the circular system” terminology, it’s up to label converters and brand owners to clearly identify how PET packaging plays a critical role in enhancing circular recycling; this will help end-users understand that their recycling efforts have an impact in decreasing carbon emissions with keeping current plastic in use rather than making new plastic.
Truth:
Entering PET packaging into the circular system is a form of recycling. Circular recycling enables a PET package to be broken down and reformed into new packaging, enabling numerous generational usage. Rather than creating new plastic material each time PET packaging is needed, forming recycled plastic into new materials reduces energy consumption to decrease carbon emissions, helping improve the environment. Both bottle and tray packaging containers are growing markets for recycled PET packaging, while durable goods markets also provide options to reuse PET materials in mixed colors. While end-users may be aware of “the circular system” terminology, it’s up to label converters and brand owners to clearly identify how PET packaging plays a critical role in enhancing circular recycling; this will help end-users understand that their recycling efforts have an impact in decreasing carbon emissions with keeping current plastic in use rather than making new plastic.
Myth #5: Plastics can cause fires at MRFs.
Since plastics are capable of burning, this may be considered the source of fires taking place in recycling bins or at MRFs. This belief may be considered a deterrent for trying to recycle more PET material or opening more MRFs across the country.
Truth:
While PET material can burn, it is not the common source of fires in recycling bins or at MRFs. According to the APR, lithium-ion batteries are generally the cause of these fire incidents. Communicating this with end-users can both clarify the common cause of fires at MRFs and make them more aware of keeping lithium-ion batteries out of their recycling bins.
Truth:
While PET material can burn, it is not the common source of fires in recycling bins or at MRFs. According to the APR, lithium-ion batteries are generally the cause of these fire incidents. Communicating this with end-users can both clarify the common cause of fires at MRFs and make them more aware of keeping lithium-ion batteries out of their recycling bins.
Myth #6: Recycling enables production of new plastics.
Without a clear idea of how recycling improves environmental footprint, end-users may be under the impression that recycling PET materials leads to brand new plastic.
Truth:
By recycling more often, plastic that is already developed will continue being reused, which decreases the need to make brand new plastic. This means less plastic will be used overall because there is less virgin plastic being manufactured into new bottles, trays and other PET packaging.
Additionally, MRFs have the capabilities today to recycle more PET material. This means if more end-users contribute PET packaging to the recycling stream, the yield of PET material will increase, allowing more PET packaging to stem from recycled materials rather than new plastic. This will also result in less carbon emissions due to decreased energy usage that’s required for creating new plastic. While reducing plastic use is also important, recycling is the best option for the plastic that is already in use.
Truth:
By recycling more often, plastic that is already developed will continue being reused, which decreases the need to make brand new plastic. This means less plastic will be used overall because there is less virgin plastic being manufactured into new bottles, trays and other PET packaging.
Additionally, MRFs have the capabilities today to recycle more PET material. This means if more end-users contribute PET packaging to the recycling stream, the yield of PET material will increase, allowing more PET packaging to stem from recycled materials rather than new plastic. This will also result in less carbon emissions due to decreased energy usage that’s required for creating new plastic. While reducing plastic use is also important, recycling is the best option for the plastic that is already in use.
How Bostik Can Help You Play a Key Role in Circular Recycling
It’s also important to think about how your adhesive can help enhance recycling when considering ways you can help brand owners communicate to end-users. As a global adhesive provider within the Arkema Group, Bostik is committed to helping you enhance wash-off capabilities for PET packaging. You can also learn more about common misconceptions around improving sustainability here.
Are you looking for an adhesive solution that can help bust myths about PET package recycling? Contact a Bostik expert to learn how the right solution can help labels improve circular recycling.
Are you looking for an adhesive solution that can help bust myths about PET package recycling? Contact a Bostik expert to learn how the right solution can help labels improve circular recycling.
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All information contained herein is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication, is provided “as-is” and is subject to change without notice. To review our full U.S. Legal Disclaimer, visit: https://bostik.com/us/en_US/privacy-policy/legal-disclaimer
All information contained herein is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication, is provided “as-is” and is subject to change without notice. To review our full U.S. Legal Disclaimer, visit: https://bostik.com/us/en_US/privacy-policy/legal-disclaimer